The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-10

NlllCl We CIV w iNii'
Gentlemcn--Thc paper have the honor /,
10 present to you on this occasion is one | /
was invited TO prepare last winter, by the !
worthy and distinguished prcsdcn, Of this |
association and chairman Of the committee !
on disinfcctantS, ID Sternbcrg with the in
tcntion of incorporating the same ~ an
addcndum 10 the report of the committee
since published in Vol, Nj of the Tran
actions Of the American Public Health AsSo-
ciation.'
Although earnestly desiring TO acccdc to
the wishes OF your committee, il seemed to
me prudent and more perfectly assuring tho
attainment Of the purpose in view, 10 At
tempt no formal exhibition OF the subject
until such time aS u more extended nhSCrvn-
ton and enlarged experience might warrant.
Subsequent occurrences Of practical value
have proved the correctness of this decision.
for since that time we have the addition Of
another long period OF quarantine work, in
GLIDING the sanitary treatment of several
hundred sca-going vessels, many of them
steamships of the heaviest tonnage, and
scN cral of these infected with yellow fever
A mere description OF the several processes
OF sanitation and of the apparatus employed
in their application, while the special sub
jcct of this paper, can hardly afford complete
satisfaction To the critical inquiry of am in
tclligent audience composed largely of scicn-
fists, whose training and acquired mental
habit lead them To search the motives Of
action as well as to investigate results.
II is necessary 10 explain, briefly, why the
health authorities of Louisiana were COM
PEELED To abandon quarantine methods, hal
lowed by antiquity; 20 show why they pro
ianely aud irrcvcrcntly established methods
% their own, dcSpising the rcitcrati0ns Of
most ancient and vOluminouS records, and
Why, throwing aside all regard for the.
plotitude Of books, they did exert
themselves, pcrsistcntly and with wicked
forward and in line with modern al
t-ncemcnt In the science and art OF war
| and The numerous branches of industry that
department OF preventive medicine called
| quarantine, which seemed hopclcssly con-
signed 10 the following Of precedent aud
bad long since assumed that peculiar form Of
| cryStilizcd responsibility which belongs TO u
| iOs.il--respcctablc, because a FOSSIL
Explanations are necessary for IL seems
| utterly absurd TO suppose that without
some extraordinary combination Of power
| ful motives, an official body would
| deliberately shake of that sweet
rcpoSc (vulgarly called lazinc :,
but in official circles conservatism and
arose itself 10 course Of intense and suS-
tanned activity.
Official bodies dislike hard work. The
official body. Left To follow the inclination
Of instinct, II prefers ease and comfort I
toll and haussmcnt; Therefore, Ia havca
sumcd the latter Is clear proof there was NO
| alternative. aud Is In no sense AN evidence a..
exceptional virtue.
Never enjoying the blessed privilege &C
corded an official master, nor tasting the
aesthetic pleasures uf exalted station, the
Louisiana board of health was created q SER
want of the people, assigned u task aud made
the custodian Of q trust gricyously hurdcn-'
with responsibility, cntailing anxiety all
vcxation Of spirit The creature IT a pcculisl
environment, nurturcd IN tribulation and
schOoled in lessons of adversely, IL has been
pressed forward by irresistible forces, which
have driven IL violently In collision with ios
Silizcd incriIstations which have aCcumu
lated, through centuries Of time, about the
quarantine systems Of the world, cluggnl
up and hampcring the dclcnscs against pes
tilcntial invasion.
In the cause Of life, health and the tenn
poull happiness of one people; In the caus'
! Of science and progressive ciyil,m
Z ton; in full view Of the mighty Pc
/ sibilitics which are already illuminating
with flood Of glory the length and brcadt
, | OF the Mississippi valley, and seeming, Cycl
now, Ia fulhll the prediction that in thi
valley will presently be Graded the consun
: nation Of the dcyclopmcntal march Of tll
! human rice through the dust " ages; thf
( here empire shall no longer take its vcstwar
5 way but shall find u, established ccntc
= let us cherish the hope that We have bur
e | through aud shattered this obstruction Whic
l. has hcmmcd us In and opposed the onl
4 barrier to the achievement Of maniic'
q destiny.
n Created by legislative powers and made 9
element In the organic construction Ut tll
State government the board ~ health rcpr
scnts in IT, official sphere the state ,
y Louisiana: but in the advancement Of scici
n tifc research In the department ct hygion'
K IN the experimental application Of improve
1 methods Of defense against pcSilcncc,
~ represents the universal cause ut humanity
n IL represents the cumhltiyc and aggrcssi,
spirit OF the Americas people against
| national enemy ~ amy kind and u rpr
scnts the people of the whole MISSISSIPPI
-, valley, ~ Il stands ianitor at the gntc-wa'
y by day and by night, In fair weather aud
u foul. ever on gunrlnn defending this gre
.e commonwealth with all the energy, q
nerve, aud integrity II purpose that me
n, can throw into n sacred cause.
W Necessity H." indeed, 'thc moth
4. of invention" aud overwhelming ncccssi
has compelled the State of Louisiana 20 suf
IN mon tO her aid the resources aud nccum
"a lated experience of science IN suprcu
=, effort 10 cmancipate hcr'cli from the bon
VI age Of yellow fever, that memorable tyn
which has robbed her citizens of those giii
". antccs youohsafcd 10y tie constitution, b
oi which no mere instrument 81 human j.
70 could secure IN the protection Of the pcoI
in life, In property aud Ia the pursuit
al Appcaling 10 science she has cndcavor
a. tn solve the problem Of quarantine and col
~ mcrcr: 10 reconcile and bring into harmo
Gus relation the preservation ut the pub
4 a. LIT 81 FNaaaU Al
Wv livelihood.
at DESTINY com. b. I've imposed upon u
10 State the task ~ 80 ng % riddle which ]
TO ycxcd the ingenuity oi governments sii
II pastilcncc ought ont the highways ol 60
by iucrcc Tor paths ~ dc,olntiun.
al The test ~ time alone can determine
an, question: "lIas shc solved the prublcmY'
-, Very ccrtsin II i, N ever solved, u v
only be through the use Of an active, int
rcnce operating through scientific ucth'
iu- aud not through religious iucnntations,
re prayers and faith without works, or u
err ntocedures A. the burning ~ tar barrels
ils, street corners and firing ~ cannon
me rcrmicidnl agents or the issuing ~ pruclnl
70. lions of nonintc'courSc or ui prolonged
ion teniion their equivalent
al II solved, II can only hc by people dri
i,o to dcspcuic effort, aud forced "a throw ~
w., reverence and forikc methods descent
IVY from their father inherited oi ignorance
,ol superstition. ana 10 adopt Others proyi
ih' by modern cnlightmcnL
AIRY The quarantine problem, ~ orlinnrily'
'nm sidcrcd. II matter u small account e.
uld pnrrd with the momcntuus issue depend
ate upnn Il IN those regions oi the south w
OK. Co. yellow fever inyasinus, Tor there II
ted, wolves no is,- lhAh we m a.
Wv streams of the mighty Angl0s rmanic
"is Latin blood. threatening 90 prevent the
lcki tniumcnt uf that exalted station which
800 lie reached only ly the white nee.
n our future b. to be- the repetition ~
history In relation a. yellow fever. then